2003 PETERBILT 379 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
3
Owner Complaints
5
Recalls
2
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2003 PETERBILT 379
The 2003 PETERBILT 379 has received a total of 3 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 5 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SERVICE BRAKES, AIR, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SLACK ADJUSTERS, STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM. 2 technical service bulletins have been issued by PACCAR Incorporated for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine And Engine Coolingengine (1 complaint), Fuel System Dieselstoragetank Assembly (1 complaint), and Wheelslugsnutsboltsstuds (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 2003 PETERBILT 379
NHTSA has recorded 5 recalls for the 2003 PETERBILT 379, potentially affecting up to 1,931 vehicles.
Recall 07V044000 — SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
| 18 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN NON-ABS EQUIPPED TRUCKS, AN AIR HOSE BETWEEN THE TRACTOR PROTECTION VALVE AND THE BACK OF THE CAB BULKHEAD WAS OMITTED.
Consequence: THE ABSENCE OF THIS AIR HOSE COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE DRIVE AXLE BRAKE PERFORMANCE WHILE A TRAILER IS BEING PULLED, RESULTING IN LONGER STOPPING DISTANCES, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: PETERBILT WILL INSPECT THE AIR HOSE PLUMBING OF THE DRIVE AXLE BRAKE SYSTEM AND MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 22, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4196.
View full details →Recall 03V343000 — SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SLACK ADJUSTERS
| 111 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR 15X4 FRONT BRAKES AND DANA E1200 STEER AXLE, THE LEFT BRAKE CANNOT FULLY APPLY OR IT WOULD BECOME STUCK AND NOT RELEASE.
Consequence: IF THE LEFT BRAKE CANNOT FULLY BE APPLIED OR IF IT WERE TO BECOME STUCK AND NOT RELEASE, THIS COULD AFFECT THE VEHILCE STOPPING DISTANCE AND STABILITY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE "UNHANDED" AUTOMATIC SLACK ADJUSTER WITH A "HANDED" AUTOMATIC SLACK ADJUSTER THAT HAS A SIDE MOUNTED PAWL NUT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 6, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON...
View full details →Recall 03V410000 — STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
| 1,187 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DANA SPICER INTEGRAL KNUCKLE AND STEER ARM ASSEMBLIES, THE STEER AXLE ASSEMBLIES MAY HAVE A LONGITUDINAL CRACK IN THE STEER ARM.
Consequence: IF THE CRACK SHOULD PROPAGATE OVER TIME, THE BALL COULD BECOME LOOSE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE KNUCKLE AND STEER ARM ASSEMBLIES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 OR PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4201.
View full details →Recall 03V288000 — POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS
| 132 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS, THE LOCKING TAB THAT LOCKS THE OUTER SPINDLE NUT ONTO THE SPINDLE WAS NOT ENGAGED OR PROPERLY BENT OVER.
Consequence: FAILURE TO PROPERLY ENGAGE THE LOCKING FEATURE INTO THE NUT COULD CAUSE THE NUT TO LOOSEN WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE WHEEL BEARING TO OVER HEAT AND FAIL IF UNDETECTED. IF THE LOOSE NUT IS NOT DETECTED, THE OUTER END (TIRE, WHEEL AND HUB ASSEMBLY) COULD BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE HUBS TO DETERMINE IF THE LOCKING TABS ARE PROPERLY BENT. IF THE LOCKING TABS ARE NOT BENT, THEN DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE APPROPRIATE COMPONENTS FOR PREMATURE WEAR AND REPLACE SUCH COMPONENTS AS REQUIRED AND PROPERLY SECURE...
View full details →Recall 03V168000 — TRAILER HITCHES:FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY
| 483 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH JOST INTERNATIONAL JSK 37U SERIES FIFTH WHEELS, A FATIGUE CRACK CAN DEVELOP IN THE BRACKET PIN WELD UNDER CERTAIN LOADING CONDITIONS.
Consequence: IF LEFT UNDETECTED OR CORRECTED IT COULD LEAD TO THE SEPARATION OF THE FIFTH WHEEL TOP PLATE FROM ITS MOUNTING STRUCTURE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRACKET PINS AND REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE. PETERBILT'S OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 20, 2003. KENWORTH'S OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 12, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2003 PETERBILT 379
3 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 PETERBILT 379. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Coolingengine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System Dieselstoragetank Assembly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheelslugsnutsboltsstuds | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
I BOUGHT A 2003 PETERBILT 379 TRUCK WITH A SPLIT TANK IN NOVEMBER 2002. SINCE BRAND NEW THE TRUCK NEVER RAN RIGHT, EVEN THE OIL SAMPLES PERFORMED ON THE TRUCK SHOWED SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT. I TOOK IT BACK MANY TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP ONLY TO BE TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. THE DEALERSHIP SENT ME TO THE CATERPILLAR DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT WAS A CAT ENGINE, THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. AFTER SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN HAVING MY TRUCK TOWED FROM PLACE TO PLACE AND BUYING PARTS TO TRY AND FIND THE PROBLEM MYSELF, I FOUND OUT THAT THE DIESEL FUEL IS MIXING IN THE HYDROLIC OIL. THE WHOLE TRUCK IS NOW CONTAMINATED AND IS BEYOND REPAIR. THE TRUCK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
WHEN ENGAGED THE VEHICLE RAN FOR APPROXIMATELY 15-30 SECONDS THEN STALLED. THE CONSUMER THEN HAD TO MANUALLY UTILIZE THE "HAND PRIMER VALVE" IN ORDER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS ADVISED THAT SINCE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING EQUIPMENT DID NOT SHOWING ANY ISSUES, PROBLEM DID NOT EXIST. THE MOTOR WAS MANUFACTURED BY CATAPULT, SERIAL NO. 69Z70080. *NLM
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY SAW GREASE LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS LEAKING. MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Safety Rating for the 2003 PETERBILT 379
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 PETERBILT 379 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 PETERBILT 379
PACCAR Incorporated has issued 2 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 PETERBILT 379. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
803 — STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
THERE ARE OCCASIONS WHEN A LEAK MAY DEVELOP IN A PRESSURE HOSE WITH A CRIMP-STYLE END FITTING AT THE POWER STEERING PUMP CONNECTION. THIS MAY BE DUE TO THE ORIENTATION AND LENGTH OF THE OE PRESSURE HOSE. A PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT THAT REORIENTS THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND CHANGES THE LENGTHS...
20 — STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
REPAIR OF MIRROR BRACKET CAB DOOR CORROSION. MODEL 379-FAMILY VEHICLES. YEAR UNKNOWN. *TT
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 PETERBILT 379
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the PETERBILT 379
- 1998 PETERBILT 379 — 6 complaints
- 1999 PETERBILT 379 — 6 complaints
- 2000 PETERBILT 379 — 18 complaints
- 2001 PETERBILT 379 — 9 complaints
- 2002 PETERBILT 379 — 0 complaints
- 2003 PETERBILT 379 (current)
- 2004 PETERBILT 379 — 1 complaint
- 2005 PETERBILT 379 — 7 complaints
- 2006 PETERBILT 379 — 2 complaints
- 2007 PETERBILT 379 — 7 complaints
- 2008 PETERBILT 379 — 0 complaints
Other PETERBILT Models
- PETERBILT 579 — 52 total complaints
- PETERBILT PETERBILT — 40 total complaints
- PETERBILT 388 — 36 total complaints
- PETERBILT 389 — 34 total complaints
- PETERBILT 357 — 19 total complaints
- PETERBILT 386 — 14 total complaints
- PETERBILT 387 — 14 total complaints
- PETERBILT 567 — 11 total complaints